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Adams Family Farm

15 Higley Hill Road
Wilmington, VT 05363
802-464-3762

Adams Farm
2005 Sheep to Shawl Competition Review

2006 information below
warped_loom

Adams Farm Sheep to Shawl Benefits Hurricane Victims.

WILMINGTON, VT - Saturday, September 24, 2005 marked Adams Farm's first Sheep to Shawl Competition. Two teams of five people went head to head over a five hour period to make a handspun and hand-woven shawl. First Place winners, Team Lamb Chops, turned around and donated $160 of their cash prize back to The Red Cross for hurricane victims.

The shawl was made from Jacob Sheep, which is a multicolored sheep with white, brown, and black fleece, making its own patterning in the natural variations of color. The winning shawl has a twill pattern and is for sale at Adams farm in the Quilt and Fiber Arts Loft for $250. The entire sale price of the shawl will also be donated to the Red Cross.

The two teams were "We're Working on It . . ." and Team Lamb Chops. The teams were made up of local artists and were given a 20 minute break for lunch. Many of the members had never participated in a Sheep to Shawl previously. Their enthusiasm was overwhelming!

Team Lamb Chops was organized by Kathleen Meeks of Maybelle Farm in Wardsboro. The weaver for the team was Margaret Silvia from Margie's Muse in Jamaica; the additional spinners were Laura Solomon of Windmill Hill Farm and Artisanry in Brookline, VT and Christine Malcolm, a spinning instructor from Townshend. Jan Elliot, a watercolor and pastel artist from Wardsboro was the "gofer" and took care of her teams needs and also got a chance to spin.

"We're Working on It . . ." was organized by Cindy Baehr of West Hill Labyrinth in Putney. The weaver for this team was Susan Lathrop, a competitive carriage driver from Cambridgeport. Spinners were Maryann Nowakowski of Brattleboro, Vice President of Northeast Handspinners Association, and Louise Frymann of Lake Louise Studios in Whitingham. Wendy Redmond of Brattleboro Union High School served as primary "Gofer" for the team but also spun and did some weaving.

Members of the Northeast Handspinners Association, River Spinners, Brighid's Dyers, West River Spinners, and Green Mountain Spinners and Weavers Guild were represented.

Adams Farm has already started the planning for next years events due to the excitement of the inaugural event. You can expect some changes in the guidelines listed below. Mark your calendars today for the September 23, 2006 event! Draft Rules, Scoring, and Prizes follow.

tom playing dulcimer A huge thank you to all of the team members for taking time out of their busy schedules and representing their fiber related businesses, farms, schools, and organizations. Also thank you to Tom Baehr who performed music with his dulcimer for the entire farm to enjoy.

Adams Farm is a working sixth-generation farm in southern Vermont, offering the public seasonal activities and agricultural interactive experiences for the whole family, as well as a complete Farm Store and Quilt & Fiber Arts Loft. Adams Farm has been rated as a "Top Ten Vermont Attraction" by Vermont Magazine, an "Editors' Pick" by Yankee Magazine Travel Guide to New England, and was named the 2003 Vermont Sustainable Farm of the Year. For more information, call Adams Farm at 802-464-3762.

2006 Sheep to Shawl Competition

Adams Farm, Wilmington, Vermont

LOCATION: Livestock Pavilion

Saturday, September 23, 2006

11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

DRAFT RULES:

Registration and entry fee of $30.00 per team, received up to 24 hours before the start of the event. Late entry fee of $45 will be accepted until Saturday, September 17, 2006 at 9 am. Space is limited to the six teams. Cancellation Policy: Participants who cancels prior to September 17, 2006 will receive $25 back; $5 will be kept as a processing fee. Participants who cancel on or after September 17 will forfeit their registration fee. Full refund if event is cancelled.
Each team will consist of 1 weaver, 3 spinners, and 1 gofer. All team members can help with fiber preparation and tying fringe at any time. Team members may change tasks during the competition, but will keep the same number of jobs at all times. The gofer role is defined as the team member who answers questions and interacts with the public so that the other members can concentrate on their tasks. The gofer will be assigned two 15 min. time slots to speak to the public about their team history, what the teams are doing and answer questions. When not announcing they may help their fellow team members. Keep in mind that Adams Farm's primary purpose is to educate the public and promote appreciation of wool and our crafts. (This is included in Team Spirit.)
Each team will supply all its own equipment. (i.e. spinning wheel, pre-warped loom, shuttles, bobbin winder, hand cards or flickers)
No drum carders, pickers, or electric equipment.
Warp yarn must be 100% wool.
Pre-warp loom (may be handspun, or commercial; dyed or natural) at no fewer than eight ends per inch.
At 11 am each team will receive a fleece, provided by Adams Farm, which must be processed into the weft.
All equipment must arrive between 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. and be set up by 10:45 a.m. Nothing can be added once the contest begins. Only team members will be permitted in the work area. Team members may not leave the work area during competition unless given permission by the judge. There will be a 20 minute lunch break at 1:00 pm. Each team member must provide their own lunch and drinks.
The competition will begin at 11 a.m. and end at 4 p.m. Any shawl not completed by 4 p.m. will not be eligible for ribbons or prize money.
The handspun weft yarn will not exceed 3 times the diameter of the warp yarn.
The completed shawl must be a minimum of 18 inches wide and 72 inches long, excluding optional fringe. (Points will be deducted for being shorter.)
Teams will be judged on the following basis:

DRAFT SCORING:

The following point system will be used. Placement will be done by points highest to lowest.

A. Team Work:

Costume, 5 points
Sign, 5 points
Promptness, 5 points
Spirit in contest situation, 5 points
Spinners, 20 points

Fleece preparation, color, cleanliness, and count
Spun weft yarn not to exceed 3 times the diameter of warp yarn
Uniformity of preparation, size, and type of yarn produced
Ability to keep weaver supplied

Weaver, 15 points

Even edges, minimal draw-in
Even beating
No threading or treadling errors

B. Finished Shawl:

Finishing details, 10 points
Aesthetic appeal (drape, hand, over-all appearance, and design), 20 points
Bonus points for hand-spun warp, 10 points

C. Time: first finished, 10 points second finished, 9 points, etc.
D. Deductions for measurements outside of standards:

Length, -5 points

Width, -5 points
Fringe, -5 points

DRAFT PRIZE MONEY:

$150.00 First Place
$75.00 Second Place
$50.00 Third Place
$25.00 Fourth Place
$10.00 Fifth Place
$ 5.00 Sixth Place